DESCRIPTION:
The Tu-16 was first seen by the public during the May Day military parade in 1954. About 2,000 of these
versatile aircraft were built as strategic bombers, anti-shipping bombers, aerial refueling tankers, and
reconnaissance aircraft. Production of the 'Badger' ended in about 1960 and the type was phased out of
Russian service by about 1993.

In addition to the Soviet Air Force and Navy, many Tu-16 survivors were inherited by former Soviet
republics such as Ukraine and Belarus. All of these were retired during the mid-1990s. The Tu-16 was also
exported to the Middle Eastern nations Egypt and Iraq. Several Iraqi planes were reportedly being loaded
for a chemical weapon attack when they were destroyed on the runway during the Gulf War in 1991. The last
of Iraq's Tu-16 fleet was destroyed during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003, and Egypt's Badgers were
retired by 2000.

The primary user still operating the Tu-16 is the Chinese Air Force flying a series of progressively
updated H-6 bombers license-built by Xian. Some 150 H-6 bombers and derivatives modified for a variety of
duties were built through the 1990s. About 120 are estimated to remain in service, and China has also
restarted production of the modernized H-6M. A considerably updated H-6K carrying modern electronics and
sophisticated cruise missiles is in development.

First production model strategic bomber armed with conventional or nuclear free-fall bombs

Tu-16A 'Badger-A'

Nuclear bomber and one of the main production models, many of which were converted to other purposes; 453
built

Tu-16Z 'Badger-A'

Aerial refueling tanker using a wingtip hose to connect to the wingtip of another Tu-16, also retained a
medium bomber capability

Tu-16N 'Badger-A'

Dedicated aerial refueling tanker fitted with a drogue system to support Tu-22 and
Tu-22M bombers

Tu-16NN 'Badger-A'

Tu-16Z airframes converted to the Tu-16N configuration

Tu-16G 'Badger-A'

Fast air mail variant used for training of Aeroflot and mail-carrying crews also known as the
Tu-104G

Tu-16T 'Badger-A'

Navy bomber based on the Tu-16A and armed with torpedoes, mines, or depth charges; 76 built

Tu-16S 'Badger-A'

Airborne lifeboat carrier converted from Tu-16T airframes and used for search and rescue operations

Tu-16Ye 'Badger-A'

Electronic warfare and electronic intelligence model

H-6, H-6A

Chinese conventional and nuclear bombers based on the Tu-16A license-built by Xian; approximately 120 built

Tu-16KS 'Badger-B'

Based on the Tu-16A but armed with two KS-1 air-to-surface missiles under the wings and carrying a guidance
radar in the bomb bay, many later converted to carry free-fall bombs or updated missiles, operated by the
Soviet Navy, Egypt, and Indonesia

Tu-16K-10 'Badger-C'

Soviet Navy anti-shipping bomber with a wider nose for an attack radar to guide a single K-10S anti-ship
missile carried semi-recessed in the bomb bay; 216 built

Tu-16K-10-26 'Badger-C Mod'

Tu-16K-10 airframes converted to carry two KSR-2 or KSR-5 missiles, one under each wing, in addition to a
K-10S

Tu-16RM & Tu-16RM-1
'Badger-D'

Tu-16K-10 airframes modified for maritime reconnaissance duties and equipped with several electronic
intelligence gathering antennas and radomes, also retained the nose attack radar to guide K-10S missiles
launched from other bombers; 23 converted

H-6B

Chinese reconnaissance variant of the H-6

Tu-16R 'Badger-E'

Reconnaissance model similar to the 'Badger-A' with photography equipment placed in the bomb bay, could
also guide KS-1 missiles

Tu-16RM-2 'Badger-E'

Modified Tu-16R used by the Soviet Navy that could also guide KSR-2 missiles

Tu-16KRM 'Badger-E'

Target drone launcher based on the Tu-16K-26

Tu-16RM-2 'Badger-F'

Reconnaissance model based on the 'Badger-E' with underwing electronic intelligence pods

Tu-16K & Tu-16KSR
'Badger-G'

Soviet Navy bombers similar to the 'Badger-A' and able to carry bombs internally while also armed with
KSR-2 or KS-5 missiles under each wing

Tu-16KSR-2 & Tu-16K-16
'Badger-G Mod'

Variants of the 'Badger-G' carrying two KSR-2 anti-ship missiles

Tu-16K-11-16 & Tu-16KSR-2-11
'Badger-G Mod'

Variant of the 'Badger-G' carrying two KSR-2 anti-ship missiles or two KSR-11 anti-radar missiles; about
440 converted

Tu-16K-26 & Tu-16KSR-2-5-11
'Badger-G Mod'

Anti-shipping bomber armed with two KSR-5 missiles and retaining the ability to carry KSR-2 or KSR-11
missiles and featuring a guidance radar between the engine inlets; over 240 converted

Tu-16KSR-2-5 'Badger-G Mod'

Conversion similar to the Tu-16K-26 or Tu-16KSR-2-5-11 but lacking the ability to carry the KSR-11

Tu-16K-26P 'Badger-G Mod'

'Badger-G' airframes designed to carry two KSR-5P anti-radar missiles while retaining the ability to carry
the KSR-2, KSR-5, or KSR-11

H-6C or H-6-III

Conventional bomber with improved countermeasures for self-protection used by the Chinese Air Force

H-6D or H-6-IV

Chinese anti-shipping bomber appearing in the early 1980s similar to the 'Badger-G' but carrying two C-601
'Silkworm' anti-ship missiles, updated versions can also carry two C-301 or four C-101 supersonic ant-ship
cruise missiles

B-6D

Export version of the Chinese H-6D sold to Egypt and Iraq

HY-6

Aerial refueling tanker retaining the ability to carry missiles

HY-6U or H-6U

HY-6 airframes modified to remove the fire control system and radar to become dedicated refueling tankers,
also has a solid nose

HY-6D

H-6D airframes converted into aerial refueling tankers for use by the Chinese Navy except retaining a
glass nose and fire control system allowing anti-ship missiles to be carried

HY-6DU

HY-6D airframes modified to remove the fire control system and used as dedicated refueling tankes by the
Chinese Navy

Tu-16P Elka or
Tu-16PP 'Badger-H'

Electronic countermeasures model equipped with chaff dispensers and used as to escort bombers

Tu-16P Buket or
Tu-16PP 'Badger-J'

Electronic countermeasures model equipped with radar jammers

Tu-16Ye 'Badger-K'

Upgraded variant of the 'Badger-F' configured for electronic intelligence and reconnaissance

Tu-16PP 'Badger-L'

Upgraded version of the 'Badger-J' used for electronic warfare and electronic intelligence

H-6E

Chinese nuclear bomber model with improved countermeasures that was introduced in the 1980s

H-6F

H-6A and H-6C airframes upgraded during the 1990s with new inertial navigation systems, a navigation radar,
and a GPS receiver and the last bomber model to be equipped with an internal weapon bay or defensive gun
turrets